Slow Down, Drivers Told, for the Sake of the Children
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ww The East York FUN AT FOX RUN n East York celebrates Terry Fox’s life OBSERVER Page 8 Serving our community since 1972 Vol. 43, No. 7 www.torontoobserver.ca Friday, September 19, 2014 n AGA KHAN MUSEUM Mayoral debate hits E.Y. By KIMBERLY AGLIPAY The Observer The Evergreen Brick Works was the stage on Sunday for a scene in the drama surrounding the Toronto mayoral campaign. Two days after Rob Ford’s exit from the race for what has turned out to be cancer and brother Doug Ford’s entry, the Brick Works on Bayview Avenue played host to a long-scheduled mayoral debate. Doug Ford did not attend, but the other main candidates did, and a fringe rival. Over 600 people gathered at the event to listen to John Tory, Olivia Chow and Ari Goldkind talk about youth, homelessness, transit and taxes. “Mr. Tory, you have gone from faith-based school funding to faith-based transit funding scheme,” Chow said, to numer- ous boos from the crowd. Chow reaffirmed her stance against Tory’s SmartTrack plan, stating, “I do not support build- Tanya Debi /// Observer ing the Scarborough subway, and Celebrating Islamic arts and culture therefore, there’s a billion dollars Prime Minister Stephen Harper joined the Aga Khan, spritual leader to 15 million Shia Ismaili Muslims around the we can invest for immediate world, at the pre-opening of the Aga Khan Museum on Sept. 12. The $300 million, 10,000 square metre museum, improvement.” an architectural and cultural showpiece, is located at 77 Wynford Dr., and opened its doors to members of the n See CHOW, page 8 public yesterday. Slow down, drivers told, for the sake of the children Death of Georgia Walsh, 7, last summer prompts community-run ‘Kids at Play’ campaign for safer roads in Leaside and beyond By XUETING ZHAO The Observer The municipal election is in full swing, From tragedy but many of the signs dotting Leaside lawns to action this fall are not there to promote a candidate. Instead, they’re a reminder to drivers to n Georgia Walsh, 7, was hit by proceed with caution. a minivan at the intersection The signs feature the silhouette of a of Millwood Road and McRae Drive on July 16 and was later child and a slogan saying, ‘Slow down, pronounced dead after being Kids at Play’ and are part of a public safety rushed to hospital. campaign launched after the tragic death of seven-year-old Georgia Walsh earlier n The ‘Kids at Play’ campaign was launched shortly after this summer. She was struck by a minivan Georgia’s death. Free lawn signs on July 16 at the intersection of Millwood were distributed in the Leaside Road and McRae Drive and rushed to the community. Hospital for Sick Children, where she was pronounced dead. n Toronto City Council approved a motion Aug. 26 to ban right Georgia was the only daughter of Conser- turns at the Millwood and McRae vative Party president John Walsh and his intersection. wife Jillian, who also have three sons. “Traffic and responsible driving is some- n A ‘No Turn On Red’ sign was set up at the East York intersec- thing that is very important to all people liv- tion following the approval of ing in the city,” said Roger Cattell, one of Xueting Zhao /// Observer the motion. Grayson, 5, puts up a sign at the second-round pickup window event held by the n See CAMPAIGN, page 5 ‘Kids at Play’ campaign at Leaside High School earlier this month. 2 NEWS The East York Observer /// Friday, September 19, 2014 POLICE & Biggest issue is traffic, Papadakis says FIRE By HENRY CHANG LI and I want to give back to the commu- For the past four years, Papada- ny years,” he said. “We shouldn’t leave The Observer nity that supported me,” he said. kis said, a dysfunctional city council them on the side.” Cab driver sought “I want to contribute by adding my has failed to serve Torontonians and Mayoral candidates can expect no in sexual assault George Papadakis says that since the professional and civic experience to incumbent Janet Davis has not been endorsement from Papadakis. day he set foot in Canada, the outward the council.” around for the people she serves. He said he wants to work with ev- Toronto police appearance of East York has remained Although Papadakis has little politi- “I have people complaining to me eryone on council. Ideally, Papadakis are asking for the the same, but its problems are coming cal experience, he is heavily involved that they have never seen her in the hopes to see new faces after the elec- public’s help after to a boil. in the Greek community and various years she’s been elected,” he said. tion. a woman reported “Things are getting worse,” he said charitable organizations. “You can only learn so much “Too many of them (councillors) being sexually as- in an interview. “The population is For the past three years, he has been from the news. You have have been here for too long,” he saulted by a taxi growing, but our infrastructures are the president of the Thessalonikean to be there to listen to said. “They do this as a profes- driver in the area still last-century.” Society of Toronto, as well as holding people talk about the sion. We need new people to of Donlands and Papadakis came to Canada to visit various positions in the federal and problems and solu- bring in a new culture to city Mortimer avenues friends and family, but stayed as a land- provincial Hellenic Congress, an um- tions.” hall.” on Sept. 8 after ed immigrant and eventually became a brella organization of all Greek groups Senior issues have 11 p.m. Canadian citizen. in Canada. largely been left out of n PAPADAKIS After she was He started life in Canada living along Papadakis said the biggest issue in the campaign, Papada- driven to her Pape Avenue while delivering film Beaches-East York is traffic. kis said, so he wants to home, she went reels to theatres. He wants permanent solutions for help seniors with simple inside her house He later studied refrigeration and local problems like potholes and road tasks like snow shov- to get money to heating at George Brown College, maintenance rather than quick patch- elling or lawn pay the driver. She where he earned a T.S.S.A. certificate jobs. In the LRT vs. subway debate, he mowing, said the driver as a refrigerator operator and mechan- openly supports subway extension or “They followed her inside ic. the creation of new lines. contrib- and sexually as- Papadakis joined the campaign on “The LRT takes up space from cars uted (to saulted her. Aug. 25, running for city council in and parking space,” he said. “Subways society) Police describe Ward 31/Beaches-East York. won’t affect the outdoor environment for so- the suspect as “I’m happy to have stayed in Canada and traffic.” ma- “brown, short hair, clean-shaven, with full lips.” Trustee-hopeful wants better use of TDSB funds Teen attacked By SAMANTHA BRIDGES inspirations — Jack Layton. She worked alongside in elevator The Observer Layton for many years when he was the New Democrat MP for Toronto-Danforth — and federal Police are ask- As a mother of two, Jennifer Story knows what it’s party leader — and their time together fueled her ing for the pub- like to be a working mom and an active member of passion to one day run in a campaign of her own. lic’s help after a the community. Balancing work and relationships, Story said that helped her learn to touch base with 16-year-old girl she prides herself on being one of those people on different communities throughout the city, proving was allegedly sex- whom others can rely for support and a response to that you can communicate and reach out to people ually assaulted in the issues of the community. from across the aisle. an elevator near A decade later, with some political experience “(Layton) was really one of a kind. He was the her home in the already under her belt, she’s running for public school true example of someone who could bring different area of Don Mills board trustee in Toronto-Danforth because, she says, communities together despite any differences,” she Road and Over- the issues at hand need addressing now. said. “He had that way of talking to people that lea Boulevard on “What concerns me the most is the leadership and brought everyone together.” Sept. 4 at around direction of our education system,” Story says. Samantha Bridges /// The Observer Story isn’t the only one who believes the TDSB 4:30 p.m. “I feel like the board is divided into cliques, so I’m Jennifer Story (right) speaks to an East has hit a crisis point. Dr. Charles Pascal, a University The suspect is interested in seeing how decisions can become closer York resident about some of the issues of Toronto professor and former deputy minister of described as a to unanimous.” facing public schools. education, says that Story has the integrity to tackle brown 50-year-old The well-being of children and their education has the job of trustee. man with a heavy always been Story’s number one priority. of desire to bring in revenue, but people aren’t asking “You need to look for a candidate that is experienced, build. One of the issues that she says the TDSB is facing is enough questions as to what strings are attached to has high integrity and can ultimately play nice in the ~ Will Alcopra the level of revenue that is coming in and whether it’s this money and whether it’s in the best interest of the sandbox,” Pascal said.